Kerna Ruth Ross Thomas Gleaton

Kerna Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Lenna and Harley Ross; husbands, Tommy Thomas and Bill Gleaton; siblings, Madelyn Harelson, Catherine Ahl, Dorotha Faulkner, Ralph Ross, and Elwood Ross.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in law, Linda (Thomas) and Chuck Arnold, Sandi (Thomas) and Chip Cherry; her grandchildren David Arnold (Colleen), Katie (Arnold) Gaible (David), Joshua (JT) Cherry, Zach Cherry and fiance Hollieann Johnson, and Christian Cherry; great-grandchildren Abigail, Isabel, and Eleanor Arnold, Madeline and Emmett Gaible, and many adored nieces and nephews.

The youngest of six children, Kerna Ruth was born in Oklahoma and moved with her family to Kilgore, Texas when she was six years old. She graduated from Kilgore High School in 1946, and stayed actively involved in what was called “War Years” reunions, making many good memories with her classmates into her 80’s. She spoke often of her close-knit family. She was grateful for her mother’s strong spiritual guidance and admired her father’s work ethic in the oil fields, as well as his kind and humorous nature. Nothing was more fun than watching her laugh and giggle with her siblings at every chance they had to be together.

Kerna Ruth married the love of her life, S.E. “Tommy” Thomas in 1948 after he captured her heart by walking into the Accounting office where she worked in Kilgore. They were married 49-1/2 years. Their love affair included romantic poems and songs, with Tommy leaving her a special recorded cassette tape of him singing their special songs to be given to her on their 50th wedding anniversary.

Apart from brief periods in Clifton by the Sea, Beaumont, Rosenberg, Bossier City, Phoenix, and Kilgore, she made her home close to family and friends in Houston, primarily the Oak Forest area. A godly woman of faith, prayer, and Bible study, she devoted her life to service and fellowship at every church she attended, but especially Recreation Acres Baptist and Temple Oaks Baptist churches. In addition to Woman’s Missionary Union and Sunday School activities, she served as church and school librarian at Temple Oaks for many years. When Temple Oaks closed its doors, she moved her membership to Houston’s First Baptist Church. Due to her advancing dementia, she dwelled in a world where she maintained her active attendance, service, and fellowship with the congregation at Temple Oaks.

Being mom and grandmom to her children and grandchildren was Kerna Ruth’s greatest earthly joy. She loved supporting anything they did and was always available to help.  She spent countless hours attending their activities, including her coach son-in-law’s high school games and her grandchildren’s baseball and football games and band performances, even traveling to games into her 80s.

However, her greatest gift to her family was the many hours she spent in prayer, EVERY DAY, praying for her family, friends, etc. She even prayed for her future generations of family and the great grandchildren she never met. Her love of God and the Bible was evident in the life she lived, never swearing or drinking any alcohol. She was strict in her beliefs and was an inspiration to many but lovingly tolerant of others. She never had a bad word or judgment of others and taught her daughters to always accept the differences of others.

She achieved one of her own bucket list activities by riding in a hot air balloon in her 60’s. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles, and play games. She especially enjoyed playing canasta and dominoes with her friends, which she did socially into her late 80s. She also loved the beach, watching the sea gulls, looking for seashells, and riding the waves. She was an avid Oilers, Texans, Rockets and especially Astros fan! She loved them winning or losing, through thick and thin. As her dementia progressed, she was always content to watch a game, even if it was the same one over and over. She passed many of these passions on to her children and grandchildren.

In the final years of her life, Ruth made many plans for Tommy to come pick her up and take her home to live with her parents and siblings. It brings her family peace to know that she is finally at rest in her heavenly home with her loved ones who preceded her

Special thanks and appreciation to the staff members of Fairbanks Assisted Living and Capstone Hospice for their loving care during her last few months.

A funeral service for Kerna Ruth will be held in Houston on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 1:00pm at Pat H. Foley & Company, 1200 West 34th Street, Houston, TX 77018, with a reception to follow. Interment will follow Friday, February 24, 2023 at 1:00pm at Kilgore Cemetery, 346-394 Memorial St., Kilgore, TX 75662.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pathfoleyfuneraldirectors.com for the Thomas Gleaton family.